Manti Te'o reveals what he's been hiding

San Diego Chargers linebacker Manti Te'o answers questions from the media during a news conference held after mini-camp held at the Chargers' facility Tuesday, June 11, 2013, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
— AP

San Diego Chargers linebacker Manti Te'o answers questions from the media during a news conference held after mini-camp held at the Chargers' facility Tuesday, June 11, 2013, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
/ AP

About a month had passed since Manti Te’o last fielded questions from reporters, leaving the cynics among us to wonder if he was hiding something.

Turns out that he was – his smile.

In his first interaction with the media since mid-May, the Chargers rookie didn’t divulge anything that would make a TMZ executive slobber, but on the opening day of minicamp, he did reveal a set of pearly whites that have spent some serious time in captivity. The grins weren’t all that frequent, but they sure were genuine, and may have offered a glimpse into the Te’o we’ll know in the future.

Ah, yes – the future. Can you imagine how glorious that word sounds to Manti? The linebacker has been living his own “Groundhog Day” for months with questions about the catfishing scandal surfacing whenever he steps in front of a mic.

Tuesday was no different, as the media teemed with curiosity after a month-long Te’o embargo. But the rookie handled every inquiry like a veteran, letting a little air out with each response until the topic was totally flat.

Then, something beautiful happened. The 22-year-old starting taking questions about – brace yourself – football. And just like that, the lump of coal that was his mood turned into a diamond.

He beamed when discussing the challenge of defending Antonio Gates. He glowed when asked about his coaches’ instructions. How happy are folks who switch to Geico? Happier than Manti Te’o talking nothing but football.

It was a welcome change of demeanor for a man who’s had a helmet on his head and the world on his shoulders. And it also opened eyes to the possibility that Te’o will not only be embraced by this city – but perhaps one day beloved.

It’s easy to tell when an athlete’s personality needs lights and a camera to spring into action. Manti, on the other hand, appears far more at home tracking down running backs and receivers.

Tuesday, he was incessantly hopping and hollering between plays at Chargers Park. Twenty-four hours after visiting kids at Legoland, he became one himself on the practice field.

That’s the kind of player fan bases wrap in a bear hug and squeeze with all their might. It doesn’t matter if their quotes are C-SPAN-dull or if their pasts are Rodman-weird; if it’s clear that they love what they’re doing, they’ll never be short on love.

“Honestly, that’s how I am. I genuinely and truly love football,” said Te’o, who regularly pointed to reporters Tuesday to make sure they got their questions answered. “All the energy, it’s contagious.”

Who knows how sincere Te’o has been in the past. Those claiming he was nothing but a victim in the fake girlfriend ordeal are probably a little naïve. But the Manti we saw Tuesday, the one embarrassed by the past, immersed in the present, and cheerful about the future – that guy seemed pretty genuine.

Philip Rivers answered numerous questions about Te’o after practice, one of which pertained to the “distraction” he might bring to the team. But the Chargers quarterback quickly dismissed the notion, asserting that Manti is “one of the guys” and that the catfishing story is “old and tired.”